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Just a wing nut, a stripper and skirts- Shocking truths.

By Donald Hester

Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC

September 10, 2012 12:15 AM

Just a wing nut, a stripper and skirts- Shocking truths. Chelan and Quincy Home Inspection services.

Electrical safety is one of my biggest concerns when performing a home inspection. I am always amazed how some wire connections and installations do not catch fire or shock someone.

Dangerous wiring practices

This is a testament to how we have redundancies in codes and practices that keep us safe from the awesome power of electricity. But if these practices are not adhered to danger is around the corner.

Let’s take a simple wiring practice… splices.

wing nut and wing nut skirt

When properly splicing a wire connection the wing nut skirt should cover all wires. If you have too much exposed wire there is a potential for short circuit with other circuits or to ground. This is from over stripping the wires and not clipping the wires to be spliced.

exposed wires below wing nut

This is a simple mistake that can have serious ramifications.

A thorough electrical inspection can prevent some dangerous situations.

Word fun, splice has it’s origins from around 1524, originally a Dutch sailors' word, splissen "to splice,".

“Good Risk Management fosters vigilance in times of calm and instills discipline in times of crisis.

Dr. Michael Ong

NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

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Donald Hester

NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA

NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Jerry, Thank you.

Joan, There are some very interesting things out there.

Jan, They can be a fun experience. There is always something fun to look at ;)

Sharon, Well thank you, just could not help myself.

Sep 10, 2012 03:02 PM

Inna Ivchenko

Barcode Properties - Encino, CA

Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

I agree, you got me by this title too:) So clever of you:)

Well, it is an important information. I'm doing an inspection on Wednesday, all looks good, but we'll see what professional will tell.

Sep 10, 2012 05:27 PM

Joshua Frederick

Home Inspector for ASPEC Residential Services, LLC - Defiance, OH

Home Inspector in Defiance & all of Northwest Ohio

I get happy to at least see wire nuts. A lot of "electricians" around here like to use electrical tape to make the connections :)

Sep 10, 2012 06:17 PM

Scott Fogleman

New Home Team - Richmond, VA

Its amazing how something so small whendone wrong makes creates such a problem.

Sep 10, 2012 07:23 PM

Donald Reich

Madison Specs - New Rochelle, NY

Cost Segregation Specialist

When it comes to electricity you can never be too safe. Thanks for this great post!!

Sep 10, 2012 10:12 PM

Amanda Christiansen

Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN

Christiansen Group Realty

That's pretty scary! Very catchy title!

Sep 10, 2012 10:16 PM

Michael Setunsky

Woodbridge, VA

Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Donald, wing nuts have more purpose than just holding the wires together. This is an easy mistake for people who do their own electrical work.

Sep 10, 2012 10:29 PM

Pam Ruckriegel

Louisville Real Estate Pros - 502-435-5524 - Louisville, KY

Negotiating the Best Deal for You!

Title got me to read. Glad I did. Now I know one more thing to pay attention to when hubby tries his handywork!

Sep 10, 2012 10:39 PM

Charlie Dresen

The Group, Inc - Steamboat Springs, CO

Steamboat Springs, CO e-Pro

Another great tip and reminder. I'll strip more from here on out.

Sep 10, 2012 11:07 PM

James Quarello

JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT

Connecticut Home Inspector

I've known a few wing nuts :) I like the electricians who also tape the wire nuts.

Sep 10, 2012 11:44 PM

Rose King

David Tracy Real Estate - Friendswood, TX

Friendswood / Pearland / Houston Bay Area

Hello Donald! I saw you are the featured member in today's AR daily drop newsletter. Just wanted to stop by and say thank you for being a first responder!

Sep 11, 2012 12:29 AM

Janelle Ancillotti

Seneca Home Staging - Syracuse, NY

HSR Certified Home Stager, Syracuse, NY

I bought a house 9 months ago and was amazed at what the home inspector found concerning electrical safety. In the process of fixing the problems that were seen, our electrician found even more hazards when he started opening things up. There was also a very high level of radon, and smoke detectors that were over 20 years old. It's a wonder the previous owner is still alive! Thanks for bringing attention to such a serious matter.

Sep 11, 2012 12:32 AM

Adrian Willanger

206 909-7536 AdrianWillanger-broker.com - Seattle, WA

Profit from my two decades of experience

Donald, thanks for the photos and pointing out how not to a splice and skirt.

Sep 11, 2012 12:47 AM

Donald Hester

NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA

NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Inna, Thank you. Somtime it is the simple things that can cause issues.

Joshua, Ain't that the truth. You wonder sometime if some people ever heard of a "wing nut" ; )

Scott, This is so true.

Sep 11, 2012 12:54 AM

Donald Hester

NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA

NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Donald, So true. I have shocked myself so many times over the years. My wife would yell at me when I would do some "live" wiring. Hey... did not say I was the brightest bulb ; )

Christiansen Team, thank you

Pam, See comment to Donald, it applies ; )

Charlie, just do not do it in front of the windows ; )

Jim, I have been accused ; 0 Yeah I see that time to time. I always do that with metal boxes just for another level of safety.

Rose, Well thank you. I have officially have hung up my responder status but once a reponder you always are one. I have had to use those skills from time to time. I carry a responders bags in all of our vehicles. You just never know when you will need it. Hmm, maybe another blog?

Janelle, That is almost always true when you start digging into it farther. As inspectors we only see what we can get to. When you start into the actual repair most of the time the issues grow.

Adrian, Thanks, Like Jay stated earlier I have seen them when they drive the wires right through the top also.

Sep 11, 2012 01:06 AM

Goran Utvic

Goran Utvic Real Estate Broker/Construction Consultant - Chicago, IL

Chicago 2 Flat Specialist

Hi Donald, I see a lot of homes with wiring just like in your photo here in Chicago. The good thing is I mainly show foreclosures and most times the power is off so it's not as dangerous.

Sep 11, 2012 01:17 AM

Evelyn Kennedy

Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA

Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Donald:

The one thing that I am a bug about is electricity. I want may clients to be safe not French Fried in their homes.

Sep 11, 2012 02:45 AM

Donald Hester

NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA

NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Goran, There is a lot of that stuff out there. Wait till the light come on and give you a flicker ; )

Evelyn, Electrical safety is a good thing.

Sep 11, 2012 03:02 AM

Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP

DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX

Selling Homes Changing Lives

Donald,

I'm so glad you posted this one. I always tell my buyers this is an area that should not be neglected. In 1994 my house caught fire from aluminum wiring. The pain, suffering, loss was unbelievable. Fighting with the insurance company was a nightmare.

You do such a great job of explaining why safety matters.

Thank you.

Sep 11, 2012 12:45 PM

Donald Hester

NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA

NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Patricia, Thank you so much. I had this conversation just recently with someone. It's not just the fire but the whole upheaval that accompanies it. Plus you lose items that money can not replace.

I have a friend that went through an electrical fire a few months ago. Hes still not back in his home and dealing with the insurance company on top of his family be displaced it a very daunting task I wish this upon no one.

Sep 11, 2012 01:32 PM